50 Baltimore orgs are joining together to close the digital divide — during the pandemic, and beyond

In Baltimore (MD), nearly one-quarter of households lack internet access at home and 18% lack access to a device. The Baltimore Digital Equity Coalition includes 50 organizations from across the city to address the digital divide that has existed in Baltimore for years, but is being exacerbated in a time when school and work often require device and internet connectivity at home, and gathering points that would provide access like schools and community centers are closed. It brings together nonprofits working on tech access, organizations of parents and teachers working to improve education, foundations, school leaders and government. And it is setting goals for action:

• Delivering home internet access to 2,000 disconnected homes and growing public Wi-Fi through approaches that include mesh networks
• Refurbish at least 2,000 devices for students and workforce development nonprofits, along with identifying inventories of existing devices
• Creating a tech support hotline to help introduce virtual work and learning to residents participating in workforce training and skills programming

The policy role was on view recently. The Baltimore City Council and Mayor Bernard C. “Jack” Young’s office enacted a measure allowing City schools to use $3 million from the city’s Baltimore Children and Youth Fund to purchase devices and expand connectivity for students. It provided more funding toward the effort after the school district mounted a big effort to buy 12,000 Chromebooks and 14,000 chargers and put the digital divide alongside boxed meals as a pressing need that was fitting for the special fund. “Our children need food and they need digital access right now,” said City Council President Brandon Scott on April 28, adding that it’s important for students at all levels to get access.